Thinking about purchasing a Regal Angel

Thraciandrummer · Aug 27, 2015

Hi all,
I have been recently considering purchasing an Angel of some kind. I know many of them are too big for my set up (see signature below), but there are also a bunch that will fit fine in my setup. I have basically rounded it down to either a Flame Angel or a Regal Angel. Personally, I would love to get the Regal Angel over the Flame Angel. Can anyone give me some advise on what they think would be the best fit for my system and current stock (also shown below). I know Regals can be tough to get properly acclimated to eating well, but I do plan on utilizing a 20 gallon quarantine tank to get it acclimated to prepared foods and watch it for any evidence of disease. Can anyone who has had success with the Regal give me some pointers please? As of right now I have no corals in my tank and it is about 9 months old. Water parameters are as follows (tested weekly, most recently tested 8/26/2015 and monitored via graphs)...

Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate = 0
Temperature = 78
Salinity = 1.024
Phosphate (tested monthly) =.10 last tested 8/12/2015

Complete side note, I would love to get a Moorish Idol over either of these Angels but I hear they are extremely hard to keep. If anyone thinks I could get away with the Moorish and has pointers on that, I would absolutely go with that over the Angel.

saltyphish · Aug 28, 2015

charleslotz · Aug 28, 2015

Regal advise: ....

If you buy one, a must have list in my opinion... To increase your chances of success.

1) buy them as juvenile, nyaquatics currently have stock. ( look for the black spot at the top back of the fish)
2) large reef tank , with loads of rock for grazing and spots to hide.
3) not punting nyquatics but they will only send him to you if he is eating mysis and or pellets. ( ask for a video of him eating).
4) to significantly increase your chances this is one fish I don't recommend quarantining... As they will get super stressed in a 20 gallon... I know I know .... It's my opinion ... Straight into a established reef x 10 your chances...
5) look specifically for head fat...
6) no copper for this fish
7) buy a couple frags of zoa for him to graze on or a cheap brain or 2.

In my experianced , two main points for Moorish idols - should have zero aggression from other fish ,... And should be first fish, Also eating at the dealer is 90% of the challenge... If possible also no copper.

Again buy from an reputable establishment already eating...many Sponcers on this forum take the same precautions... It makes all the difference. Regal at $90 from a LFS vs $299 for Red Sea juvenile is a big differance but with these fish you get what you pay for.... aslso try and get a redsea regal ,... The colors are more vivid...

Again were you buy makes a huge difference , for these fish...Thats it hope this help you ....

Shep · Aug 28, 2015

Never had one but @eatbreakfast and @3FordFamily are very knowledge about fish. They should be able to help.

4FordFamily · Aug 28, 2015

I actually disagree with what has previously been posted on many points.

I've had two regals, both went through quarantine, both were subjected to cupramine for 2 months or more at double recommended dose, I've now qt dozens of Angels in cupramine without any trouble whatsoever. My moorish idol has been in cupramine for 4 months thanks to two moron cross contamination mistakes and is fat as a whale.

Both of my regals were large adults. Both from NYAquatics. Fantastic vendor especially for this fish.

Both of mine have been Red Sea or yellow belly varieties.

My first was 5+ inches. I struggled to get him to eat. Before buying this fish live black worms are a MUST. They need low ammonia (the reason many dislike qt is because ammonia is an issue in an uncycled qt in particular - to remedy this I bought the seachem ammonia badge and changed 70-80% water DAILY. New water was brought to proper temp and ph was adjusted with "araga milk".

My angel was housed with MANY other fish on a 55 gal. aggressive fish (even if not directly bullying your regal) will curb appetite. IME temps under 78 degrees will do the same. After two months of occasionally eating, the last month voraciously eating blackworms, it became a hardy addition. Mixing frozen foods, microwaving them, draining out the water and replacing it with selcon and garlic guard is my other food of choice. I keep it refrigerated until exhausted (1 week typically).

My most recent regal is 8+". A truly gorgeous specimen I've dubbed Goliath. He ate the FIRST HOUR in qt. NYAquatics impressed me. He eats flakes and everything except I've never seen him eat nori.

For moorish idols nori is absolutely critical they need to be able to gorge themselves on nori ALL DAY to fatten up and maintain weight. Once behind and malnourished, it's over.

These very fragile fish must be kept in a 100% parasite free environment. I am 2/2 on regals and 1/1 on moorish idols with copper and ensuring zero parasites due to proper treatment and qt protocols.

If you do not qt all fish added in the future and this fish (assuming your tank has always been treated this way) you will have ich, 99% chance. Regals lose weight quickly and although not as difficult as idol to get back to weight, it immensely decreases your chances. Even minor cases of ich will steal nutrients from them (in the gills where you may not see them).

I do agree though that large reef tanks are ideal. Pineapple sponge is another staple that helped my first regal eat. It refused all offerings except live rock with these on them. They're in most ESTABLISHED tanks. This brings me to my next point- 9 months established is not going to be stable enough for this fish, IMO. DEFINITELY not for a moorish idol.

A healthy eating regal angel does have a chance but you need to watch params closely should you try it. Frequent water changes may be necessary. Frequent small feelings as well. Stay away from idols, IMO unless you're a very seasoned hobbyist and you can 100% ensure no parasites, pristine water quality, and lots of swimming room.

My success may partially be luck because mine was a voracious eater from day 1. That said I believe the lack of parasites, constant feedings, and lots of nori led to my idol success.

4FordFamily · Aug 28, 2015

I might also say that despite my success with larger regals, there is truth in the theory that smaller adults and medium to large juveniles do better in captivity. This is true for many angels, especially those with very specific diets in the wild, particularly those that primarily eat sponge in the wild (like regals).

The longer they were in the wild eating these specialized foods, the less apt they are to accept foods outside of this habit in home aquaria it seems.

Rattooth · Aug 28, 2015

Flame is hardiest of those three.
Next Regal.
More difficult Moorish idol.
( I have Flame now that is over 7 years old.)

ReefMadScientist · Aug 28, 2015

I always considered getting a Regal or Morish. Glad I read this so I know what I am getting into.

Shep · Aug 28, 2015

And this is why I tagged Ford lol

FarmerTy · Aug 28, 2015

3FordFamily said:
I might also say that despite my success with larger regals, there is truth in the theory that smaller adults and medium to large juveniles do better in captivity. This is true for many angels, especially those with very specific diets in the wild, particularly those that primarily eat sponge in the wild (like regals).

The longer they were in the wild eating these specialized foods, the less apt they are to accept foods outside of this habit in home aquaria it seems.

Hey Ford, what are you keeping in your tank these days? I'd love to see a picture of that giant regal of yours!

4FordFamily · Aug 28, 2015

FarmerTy said:
Hey Ford, what are you keeping in your tank these days? I'd love to see a picture of that giant regal of yours!

Same old stuff! I'll post some pics of Goliath when I move him back to the DT for you!

ReefBum · Aug 31, 2015

What kind of corals do you plan to add in the future? I had this guy in a SPS dominated tank and he didn't pick a lot on my SPS. However, he did nip at some LPS so you have to be careful with acans and some other stuff. A gorgeous fish.

Thraciandrummer · Aug 31, 2015

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it all. After reading through it, I will definitely cross the Idol off my list as my tank isn't established enough. I may also hold off on a Regal for the same reason. I would like to get a little more experience keeping trickier fish first before I jump to one that can be more on the difficult side.

I am really looking for a good "showpiece" fish for my tank though still. I enjoy what's in it, but I feel I am missing that one fish that really draws your attention. Is there an Angel that is hardier that could be recommended? Or perhaps a different fish that could be my showpiece?

@ReefBum - I haven't thought about corals yet. I would like my tank to be running for a year before I start adding corals. I will most likely start with very easy corals in the beginning though.

eatbreakfast · Sep 1, 2015

I completely agree with everything 3ford said, the only discrepancy I have, but in no way anything major, is I have found moorish idols to be easier to get eating than regal angels, but neither is bt any means easy.

4FordFamily · Sep 1, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
I completely agree with everything 3ford said, the only discrepancy I have, but in no way anything major, is I have found moorish idols to be easier to get eating than regal angels, but neither is bt any means easy.

I agree with that. The issue with idols is less getting them to eat and more getting them to fatten up once thin. They tend to waste away.

Carmen · Sep 1, 2015

I only have experience with the flame angel. I have one in my 75-gallon. He is a perfect citizen in terms of leaving coral alone. I like that he won't get too big for the tank, and he's very colorful. I have no other fish in the tank that matches him in color or shape, so he really stands out. Plus he's really active, constantly picking at the rocks. I'm glad to have him.